It's been a great start to the school year. Thank you to the many parents that joined us for our BES Preview nights this week. Your active involvement in the classroom and in school activities is an integral part of our success as a school!

If you weren't able to attend, please reach out to your child's teacher to make sure you get all of the important information that was shared. This is especially important for 3rd grade parents regarding the Read to Succeed law and its implications for your child.

In this edition of the Bear Bulletin, you will find information about

• The carline and the details of the traffic flow. Please make sure you are very familiar swith this and know how to zip merge so we keep it moving efficiently and safely for everyone.

• This week's lunch menu, as well as links for setting up your child's account or to apply for financial support for meals.

• Upcoming PTO events and info - spirit rock details, Pelican's Family Night, PTO activities for the year. We'd love to have you at our first PTO meeting on Friday, September 6th at 8:00am in the BES library.

• Volunteer opportunities for First Friday & Duty-Free Lunch! See info below and links to sign up.

• How you can plug in as a BES Mentor.

• Future opportunities to support the D5 Education Foundation (and support D5 Students & Teachers in the process!)

A completed "Meal Modification Form" from your healthcare provider is required in order for nutrition services to omit or provide a substitute for any food allergies. Please return completed forms to the school nurse.

Our PTO provides a monthly treat for faculty and staff as a little thank you or pick-me-up on the first Friday of each month. This is an easy way for families to get involved and show some love and support.

For the month of September, the PTO is providing a DIY Trail Mix Bar. There will be an assortment of items and goodies that teachers and staff can mix up to make their perfect snack! To make it easy to contribute, some items are pre-packaged and can be dropped off at the school. Don't have time to bring anything by the school, you can contribute here and someone will do the shopping and delivering for you!

As we head into fall, that means it is time for one of the most exciting events at Ballentine Elementary School! Any child who has been at BES for a few years can tell you all about the Boosterthon Fun Run!

Boosterthon is our main fundraiser for the year and all money raised will be used to fund the annual PTO budget. It is through this budget that our wonderful PTO is able to give back over $30,000 to BES annually through supports such as teacher allotments for classroom supplies and extras, student incentives, family nights, staff thank-yous, professional development, and most recently our new digital marquee - just to name a few!

Boosterthon, however, is far more than a fundraiser. While they do help us meet the needs of our school financially, they also provide valuable character lessons of respect, good behavior, and good citizenship while also incorporating physical fitness and healthy choices. This is one of the primary reasons we have selected Boosterthon over other fundraising means.

The culminating Boosterthon Fun Run has established itself as one of the highlights of the school year, enjoyed by students, faculty and parents. Every child, whether they raise money or not, receives a Boosterthon t-shirt and has the opportunity to participate in the Fun Run, so everyone is included in the fun!

For now, mark your calendars with these key dates!

💻 Sign up online at MyBooster.com – 09/11/2024

🎉 Fundraiser Kickoff in school – 09/25/2024

👟 Event Day – 10/03/2024

More information and volunteer opportunities will be coming soon. We appreciate your support of BES!

BES Families and Community Members - Are you interested in supporting some of the BESt kids we know? It is not a huge time commitment at all, but the impact could last a lifetime. We'd love to have you! You can apply through the link below. If you have questions, contact our School Counselor, Ms. Siders.

Front Office - 803-476-4500

School Nurse - 803-476-4509

Cafeteria - 803-476-4508

School Counselor - 803-476-4534

Library - 803-476-4518

Parent input and feedback are always appreciated. Whether through a phone call or an email, we welcome your thoughts and ideas. The Administrative Team at BES is always available to help in any way we can! You can contact us by calling the main office at 476-4500 or emailing us directly.

Principal Robin Bright rbright@lexrich5.org

Assistant Principal Zach Keister zkeister@lexrich5.org

Assistant Administrator Allison Babb ababb@lexrich5.org

Follow us on social media as well!

Facebook @BallentineElementarySchool

Twitter @BallentineElem

Our Mission…

The mission of Ballentine Elementary School is to join together community, staff, students, and families to ensure that all students are provided a world-class, rigorous education.

Our Vision…

In partnership with the community, staff, students, and families, Ballentine Elementary School will exemplify excellence in education in a positive, safe and nurturing environment in order to prepare our students to be fully participating citizens and leaders. We will foster the development of creative thinking, encourage curiosity and problem solving, promote respect for individual differences and uphold high ethical standards.